ADB application process for full-time jobs: A primer

Starting an application for a job at the Asian Development Bank is no different from other large aid organizations. Applicants need to register in an online hiring portal, and in this case, it’s the ADB Recruitment Center. Launched in late 2009, ARC contains information on vacancies and stores profiles of individuals interested in securing professional and administrative support positions at the regional lender. The application process, according to Human Resources Director Robert Siy, is quite rigorous, as the bank is “interested really in the most qualified and highly competent professionals.” So, it might take a while – often more than three months of waiting time. “But rest assured that we are exercising the normal due diligence in screening our applicants,” Siy said. ADB is keen to recruit individuals with advanced academic degrees, international development experiences, and sheer passion to pursue positive change. “We have two essential elements to our recruitment. One is technical skills, one is more of behavioral competencies,” said Alessandro Pio, senior advisor at the Budget, Personnel and Management Systems Department. The application process Job advertisement Job listings within ARC are searchable by sector, posting date and assignment location. At a click, registrants can submit and monitor the progress of their applications. Aside from ARC, vacancies can be viewed on the Devex Jobs website, the ADB website’s employment opportunities page and the ADB Careers Portal, which is hosted by Devex. Also, every Friday, the human resources unit emails vacant positions to ADB directors and staff, encouraging them to forward the job notices to universities, organizations, colleagues and people they know. Profile creation Filling out the online forms may take an hour to complete given the various sections, including employment history, educational qualifications and geographical experiences. The system also allows for the uploading of additional credentials such as writing samples and other outputs, depending upon the job applied for. University certificates and grades are not necessary to include and may just be requested at a later stage of the application. There are no hard-and-fast rules as to how long a profile can stay in the database. It is advantageous, though, to keep it continually updated. Application review Hiring departments collate and evaluate resumes by the end of the application period. Depending on which ADB unit is recruiting, those applying for administrative support posts may be asked to undergo an examination, such as a typing test for entry-level secretarial functions. Professional and character references should be taken seriously because the bank definitely digs for their assessment of an applicant. Preliminary interview Shortlisted applicants are contacted for their availability and interest via video conference or overseas call. Face-to-face interview International candidates are invited to fly to the ADB headquarters in Manila for at least a whole day of panel interviews on their qualifications and “fitness to the bank.” The prospective staff may take this chance to explore the workplace and the city at this stage. The bank pays for the interviewee’s round-trip plane fare and overnight accommodation to nearby hotels. Employment confirmation Upon notice of employment some months after the job interview, new staff would need to relocate to Manila or the designated country assignment. ADB holds a reputation of retaining staff for many years. International recruits are afforded with home country travels, housing subsidy and relocation assistance to ease the expatriate’s settling into new residence. Tips from ADB insiders Persistence pays. Check even the list of anticipated vacancies for the next three to six months. “In order to maximize your chances, it would be good to stay in the game. And if you have strong qualifications for a position, please continue to express interest,” Siy said. Familiarity with the operations helps in strategically positioning oneself in relation to the skills needs of the bank. It also makes for responsive application profile and attachments. “I think it would be important that [applicants] know the organization even before coming in,” said Camilla Holmemo, a poverty reduction specialist at the Southeast Asia Department’s Social Sectors Division. “I benefited a lot from [meeting] with people before I actually applied and joined. It gave me much better idea what the organization was all about, what they did, [how the] culture was.” ADB likes to hire experts in any given field. Starting with a non-governmental organization or other related institutions is a good way to build skills, experience and portfolio. Andrea Iffland, director of the Pacific sector operations at the ADB Pacific Department, told Devex: “If you are in the phase of your life where you are very solid in your subject matter, that’s the time to move to ADB. Gain your initial experience in project design and implementation. When you’re in your mid-30s, then to start a career in ADB is the perfect time.” ADB consulting experience is a big plus when applying for a full-time position as it suggests that the applicant is already familiar with the bank’s operations, policies and procedures. Former interns also have greater chances of getting hired. As ADB Managing Director General Rajat Nag has noted, “We have often taken on staff from our consultants.”